Permutation-lock.



w. c. GILMORE. PERMUTATION LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25. 19|?.

1,251,365. Patented Dec. 25, 1917.

W. C. GILMORE.

PEMuTATloN LocK.

APPLICATION FILED .MAY 25 l9l`l.

Patented Dec. 25,1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W. C. GILMORE.

PERMUTATION LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25. IsIz.

1,251,865. Patented Dec. 25,1917.

, 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

M 5MM@ UNITED STATES PATENT kFFICE'.

'WILLIAM C. G-ILMORE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

.PniaMUTA'rioN-LOGK.

Application filed May 25, 1917.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, lViLLrAM C. GiLMoRE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Permutation-Locks, of which the following isa specification.

My invention relates to improvements in permutation locks and has especial reference to locks of this character, capable of inanipulation from a distant or remote point.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a lock having a plurality of tumbler manipulating instruinentalities such for example as electro-magnets and a plurality of circuits containing, respectively, the said magnets, with means for closing said circuits in selected sequence, from a remote point, whereby-to release a bolt, that 'may thereafter be moved by manual means, to open a lock or accomplish other useful results.

Other and further objects of my invention will become readily apparent, to persons skilled in the art, from a consideration of the following description when taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein Figure 1 shows one form of my lock as it may be applied to an automobile to lock the fuel controlling valve, to prevent unauthorized use of the vehicle.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the lock showing parts in section.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section, taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. t is a transverse section taken on line 1 -1 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a side elevationof the lock.

Fig. 6 is a diagram of circuits.

In all the views the same reference characters are employed to indicate similar parts.

I will first describe a physical structure by which my invention may be carried into effect and then I will'point out the manner of its operation in conjunction with the circuits and source, of electric current, as

'shown in the diagram.

vided witli side walls 10 and 1l and a bottom wall 12 from which project flanges 13 and 14. The magnets are spacedl apart and are supported on the wall 12, by means of Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Deo. 25, 1917.

Serial No. 170,834.

screws 15. Two coperating magnets are mounted upon eachbar 16, 17, 18 and 19, respectively. These bars are secured to the side walls 10 and 11 by suitable fastening devices, such as screws or the like. Mounted centrally of each of the cross bars isan` armature support 20, to which the armature 21 of each pair, respectively, is pivoted, as at 22 and 23. Projecting vertically from the armature is an arm2ei. The arin2&, for the magnets 6 and 7, is used exclusively for closing and opening 'the circuits `between contact springs 25-26 and 27-28, respectively, so that when the` aimature 21 is moved von its pivots, 22 and 23, the arm 2st will make contact between the springs 25 and 26, by wedging itself between the springs or between the, springs 27 and 2S in thesaine manner, to close and open electric circuits, to be hereinafter more Ifully described. Each of the pair of magnets is provided with an armature in common and supports, of this character, and also, each with an arm 24, which I have indicated for the other magnets, as arms 29. The armatures, to which the arms 29 arerespcctively connected, are each provided with contact making projections 31, 31', on its respective ends. The projections 31 and 31 are adapted to make contact between contact plates or springs 1a and 1b or 2a and 2b, and so on, as the case may be, as clearly shown in the diagrammatic Fig. 6. Each of the arms 29 passes through a longitudinally sliding tumbler or bolt 33, 34: and 35, respectively, which bolts are freely slidable in the flanges 13 and 14 of the frame. A slidable bar 36 is capable of longitudinal movement in front of the ends of the tuinblers 33, 3-1 and 35, and is provided with three perforations 37, one for each of the tumblers, and which perforations .register with the tuinblers when the bar 36 is in proper positionfor this purpose. `W'hen the bar 36 is moved into position shown in Fig. 2, the tumblerswill enter the perforations, in the vbar 36, and prevent its longitudinal movement, and when the tumblers 33 to 35, inclusive, are moved in the opposite direction the ends of the tumblers are withdrawn from the perforations 37 and the bar, or bolt, 36 may. then be moved longitudinally by any proper means.` i In the particular embodiment shown the bar 36 is provided with a rack 38 on one of its ends, which .engages a pinion 39, that is secured to a stop cock stem 40. The

stop cock 40 is placed in the pipe 41 which may be the means of conducting the fuel to an engine of an automobile. A` handle 43 is secured to the upper end of the stem 40, and is the means by which the stop cock 40" may be rotated for permitting the fuel to pass through the pipe 41, or to shut it off. W'hen the stem 40, of the stop cock is rotated in such direction that the perforations 37 of the bar 36 are brought into register with the tumblers 33 to 35, inclusive, the stop cock, controlling the pipe 41, is closed, so that fuel may not pass through the pipe, and when the handle 42 is moved at substantial right angles to the position in which it is placed at this time, the stop cock is 'thereby opened, at which time the tumblers 33 to inclusive are withdrawn from the perforations within the longitudinally movable bar 36.

In the diagram of circuits, shown in Fig. 6, I have indicated a series of push buttons, a to u, inclusive, some of which buttons may properly be used in selected sequence to manipulate the tumbler bolts 33 to 35 inclusive. The armatures, which manipulate these bolts or tumblers also control contacts which in most instances are employed to open and close circuits leadingto other magnets. B is a battery providing current for energizing the magnets of the lock.

The operation of the device is as follows: Assuming that the lock is open and it is desirable to lock it by manipulating the push buttons, which may be located at a point remote from the lock, as, for instance, on the dash of the automobile, the first operation is to press the push button 7a, which is the master push button, used for closing the circuit. This will cause current to flow from the battery B over wire 45 through the magnet 7 over wire 46 to the push button aand over wire 47 to the return Wire 43,v back to the battery, thus closing the circuit through the magnet 7 thereby causing the contact projection 31 to close the circuit between contact springs E25 and 26. The circuit should now be closed by the push button n whereupon the current will leave the battery B by the wire 49, through the contacts 3iL and 3b, through projection 31 on the armature controlling this projection, and over wires 50 and 51, through the electro-magnet 4 by wire 52 thereby attracting the end of its armature, so that the projection 31 will enter between the contacts 4FL and 4b in front of the magnet 3 and moving tumbler 34 into orice 37, and thence by wire 53 into contact with the central point of the rotatable arm 54. This arm is rotatable upon a disk 55 which has a number of contacts 56 to 62 inclusive, spaced around its periphery. The arm 54 is shown to bear upon contact 53 and therefore the current will pass over the wire 63 back to the push button n. Push button b should. now be closed, whereupon the circuit will be from battery B over Wires 49-50-51 through contacts 4&-31-412 over wire 80, through magnet 2, by wire 31, back to push button b, thus moving tumbler 33 into perforation 37 of the bolt 36. Push button g should now be closed, whereupon the circuit is as follows: from the battery B, over the wire 49, through contacts 8L and 8b, over the wire 50, the wire 51, through contacts 2 and 2b, which are now closed by the projection 3l, over the wire 65 and through the magnet 6, thus closing the contacts between 6a and 6b by introduction of the projection 31, back over the wire 66 to the push button g. rlhis will have the effect of pushing all of the tumbler bolts 33, 34, 35 inclusive, into position so that they will be within the corresponding perforations 37 in the bar 36. Now if the push button e be closed the circuit will be over the wire 45, from the battery B, through the magnet 8, thus attracting the armature and withdrawing the projection 31 from between the contacts y25 and 26, and over the wires 67 back to the push button e, thus opening the circuits previously traversed to close the lock.

-Now when it is desirable to open the lock, so as to be able to turn on the gasolene, the bolt 36 is released by applying pressure to closing push button 7c which closes the circuits E25 and 26 in a manner heretofore described. The push buttons a, f and are now depressed to close the respective circuits in regular consecutive sequence as follows By pressing button a circuit will be from the battery B over the wires 49 and 50 to the wire 51 and between the contacts 6a and 6b, they having previously been closed, over the wire 69 through the magnet 1, thus opening the contacts 2a and 2b, and through the wire 70 back to the push button 0;. This withdraws the tumbler bolt 33. Push button f is no w closed to withdraw the bolt 35-whereupon the circuit will be as follows: from the battery B, over the wires 49 and 50 to the wire 51 and over the wire 51 through the contacts 1a and 1", electro-magnet 1 having caused these contacts to be closed when the push button a was closed, through the wire 71 and the electro-magnet 5, thus opening circuit between contacts 6@L and 6b, and over wire 72 back to the push button f, thus removing the tumbler bolt 35 from the slidable bolt 36. Circuit is now closed by push button whereupon the current'will iow from the battery B over the wires 49, 50 and 51, over the wire 73, contacts 5a and 5b, over the wire 74, through the magnet 3 and over the wire 75, back to the push button j. By this means sliding the tumbler bolt 34 out of contact with the slidable bolt 36, thus relieving the sliding bolt so that it may be longitudinally moved to the position, for 15 instance, for the purpose of turning on the fuel in the pipe Lil by manipulation of the stop cock 40.

I have shown a larger number of push buttons than are necessary, for the purpose of confusing persons who are unacquainted with the lock, as it is a fact that if the circuit cont-rolling push buttons are moved out of regular sequential order they will fail to perform the functions desired.

I provide a disk 55 With a series of contacts located near its periphery, in combination With a rotatable arm 54, which may make connection With any one of those contacts for the purpose of putting in service the corresponding push button. For instance, when the arm 5st is in connection with the contact 57, push button c becomes capable of activity and when it is placed in connection With contacts 56, push button l becomes active and so on, making any one of the various push buttons active, that are normally inactive, for the purpose of changing the combination, so that a person unfamiliar With the new combination would not be able to unlock or release the sliding bolt 3G by the sequential use of the push buttons that were formerly used for that purpose.

Vhile I have herein shown a single embodiment of my invention, for the purpose of clear disclosure, it is manifest that many changes may be made in the general form, arrangement and disposition of the parts within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim is y l. A permutation lock comprising a movable bolt; a series of tumblers, arranged to restrain movement of said bolt; tumblermoving devices; means located at a remote point for sequentially energizing said devices and a source of power controlled by said means for operating said devices.

2. A permutation'lock comprising a movable bolt; a series of tumblers arranged to restrain movement of the bolt; tumbler-moving devices; a series of means, greater in number than said devices, located at a remote point from the said lock, a selected number of which operated in proper sequential order will energize said device to move the respect-ive tumblers to release the bolt, and a source of power controlled by said series of means to energize said devices.

3. A permutation lock comprising a movable bolt; a series of tumblers arranged to alternately restrain and release said bolt; a pair of electro-magnets for each tumbler, one of said magnets of the pair for moving the respective tumblers to engage the bolt, the other of the pair to move its tumbler to 'release the bolt; means for simultaneously controlling circuits, to open or close them, by movement produced by the armatures of said magnets; a separate circuit for each magnet; a plurality of circuits greater in number than the magnets adapted for causing said magnets to be energized When operated in sequential order and a source of current-supply for energizing said circuits.

4. A permutation lock comprising a movable bolt; a series of tumblers arranged to alternately restrain and release said bolt; a pair of electro-magnets for controlling each of said tumblers to move them in alternate directions; circuits for energizing said tumbler-moving means; other circuits adapted to be opened or closed by the previously operated magnet to permit energization or deenergization of an adjacent magnet to move another' tumbler', and a series of push buttons adapted to be closed in the sequence With which the magnets are operated to energize said magnets.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my h and.

VILLIAM C. GILMORE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, IJ. C. 

